Statistical information Laos 1995

Laos in the World
top of pageBackground: In 1975 the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise an easing of foreign investment laws.
top of pageLocation: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Southeast AsiaAreaTotal area total: 236,800 km²
Land: 230,800 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries: total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November; dry season (December to April)
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
ElevationNatural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land useArable land: 4%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 3%
Forest and woodland: 58%
Other: 35%
Irrigated land: 1,554 km² (1992 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: landlocked
top of pagePopulation: 4,837,237 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.84% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
Adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 45% (female 1,084,615; male 1,111,928)
15-64 years: 51% (female 1,280,142; male 1,199,149)
65 years and over: 4% (female 86,390; male 75,013) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.84% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 42.64 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 14.28 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
Current issues natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight
Current issues international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 99.2 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 52.2 years
Male: 50.66 years
Female: 53.81 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)
Total population: 50%
Male: 65%
Female: 35%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Conventional short form: Laos
Local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Local short form: none
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Vientiane
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural; Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Dependent areasIndependence: 19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)
Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992)
Head of government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president, approved by the Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: elections last held on 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANH
In the us chancery: 2,222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 332-6,416, 6,417
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 332-4,923
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Victor L. TOMSETH
From the us embassy: Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane
From the us mailing address: B. P. 114, Vientiane; American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96,546
From the us telephone: [856] (21) 212,581, 212,582, 212,585
From the us FAX: [856] (21) 212,584
Flag description
: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official Communist states - has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking - growth has averaged 7.5% annually since 1988. Even so, Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP growth.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 8.4% (1994 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $850 (1994 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: principal crops - rice (80% of cultivated land), sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock - buffaloes, hogs, cattle, poultry
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1992 est.), accounts for 18% of GDP (1992 est.)
Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million
By occupation: agriculture 80% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 21% (1992 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $N/A
Expenditures: $NA
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $277 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Commodoties: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garments
Partners: Thailand 57%, Germany 10%, France 10%, Japan 5% (1991)
Imports: $528 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
Commodoties: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures
Partners: Thailand 55%, Japan 16%, China 8%, Italy 4% (1991)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 717 (1994 est.), 720 (July 1993). 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 260,000 kW
Production: 870 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 44 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaLaos - Communication 1995
top of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 7,390 telephones (1986); service to general public very poor; radio communications network provides generally erratic service to government users
Local: 16 telephone lines per 1,000 people
Intercity: radio communications
International: 1 earth station
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $105 million, 8.1% of GDP (FY92/93)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsLaos - Transportation 1995
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 52
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 25
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 17
HeliportsPipelines: petroleum products 136 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Merchant marine: total:1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
Ports and terminalsLaos - Transnational issues 1995
top of pageDisputes international: boundary dispute with Thailand
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the international drug trade, fourth largest opium producer (85 metric tons in 1994; heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in Burma